Saddle.



J. H. WITT.

SADDLE.

APPLICATION FILED HA3. 5, 1910.

'Patentd May 1 1911.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFHJE.

JAMES H. WITT, 0F LUTTRELL, TENNESSEE. i

SADDLE.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that. 1, James H. 11m, a citizen of the United States, residing at Luttrell, in the county of Union and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Saddles, of which the following is a specification.

This invent-ion relates to saddle trees and is designed particularly to construct a saddle which is thoroughly braced throughout and which Will conform with the contour of the rider.

I am aware that heretofore saddles have been constructed which, to a certain extent, have the cant-les thereof curved and are also provided with thigh supports, but these saddles do not meet with thorough satisfaction due to the fact that the conformation with the rider is not complete.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to improve saddles in such a manner that no sharp corners will be presented to the rider, that the thigh support will conform with the leg in such a manner that a complete muscle cavity is provided and that the cant-1e will form a secure seat.

With the above and other objects in view, this invention consists of the construct-ion, combination and arrangement of parts all as hereinafter more fully described, claimed andillustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a saddle constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section thereof; Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken through the horn of the saddle.

Referring particularly to the drawings, 10 indicates the side bars of the saddle constructed in accordance with the present invention, said side bars, at their forward extremities, curving upwardly to form the horn 11. The cantle 12 is secured to the side bars as hereinafter more fully described and is provided with the thigh supports 13. The cantle 12 is of such a configuration that the same forms a continuation of the curve imparted to the side bars, both curves being of such a degree that the saddle conforms completely to the rider. The thigh supports 13 are curved downwardly and terminate below the side bars 10 and consequently do not present a sharp edge. In order that the supports may form a muscle cavity which will. receive the thigh in such a manner that the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 5, 1910.

Patented May 16, 1911.

Serial No. 547,582.

comfort of the rider is promoted, the same not only curve downwardly but are concaved transversely, said concaved portion forming a continuation of the curve imparted to the cantle 12. The above formation of the thigh supports 13 is peculiar in that the special transverse curvature providing the concave members 13 virtually affords a structure wherein the thigh supports seat around the rear portion of the legs at the thigh, so to speak. As is well known, in riding, a rider maintains his seat primarily by the pressure of the legs against the saddle and the exercise of the thigh muscles at the point where thethigh supports 13 of the present invention seat about the legs, and by reason of the transversely curved form of the members 18 the rider is able to hold himself more firmly in the saddle. Under no conditions do the members 13 permit outward or sliding movement of the thigh portion of the legs from the sides of the saddle by reason of the special construction of the device as hereinbefore specifically described.

Formed on the under edge of the forward extremities of the side bars are the downwardly projecting studs or lugs 14, said studs forming, in combination with the side bars, a means whereby the girth angle 15 a may be secured to the saddle. A bracing bar 16 extends from one of the lugs 14 to the opposite lug on the under side of the born 11 and is secured thereto by the bolts 17, said bolts passing through the horn and engaging a similar bracing bar 18 spanning the pommel. An auxiliary bar 19 is also at tached to the under surface of the pommel approximately parallel to the bracing bar 16. A bracing means 2Q is attached at each terminal thereof to the inner surfaces of'the side bars and is located directly under the cantle 12 in such a manner that the same is secured centrally thereto. The oantle has disposed on either side of the back thereof the brace plates 21 through which pass a plurality. of bolts securing the same to said cantle.

From this construction, it will readily be understood that the present invention comprises a saddle wherein the same is thoroughly braced in such a manner that the liability of certain parts, on which the majority of the strain is exerted, to become loose is eliminated and further that a saddle of this construction wherein the seat portion thereof is one continuous symmetrical Curve will not only promote the comfortof the rider but Will distribute the Weight evenly throughout the saddle.

Having thus described my invention, What is claimed as new is:

A saddle tree substantially as described, comprising side bars, and a cantle rigid therewith and having its opposite free ends curved outwardly beyond and downwardly below the side and thereby forming thigh supports, the lowermost portions of said thigh supports being curved transversely to form concave members adapted to seat about the thigh portion of the leg of the rider for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES H. VVITT.

l-Vitnesses V. S. MYNATT, G. S. CHESNEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

